Practice Suggestions for Learning How to Play Quarter Notes and Quarter Rests

The patterns in Lesson 1 contain only quarter notes and quarter rests. The time signatures are either 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4, so each quarter note and quarter rest is always equal to one beat.

To feel the beat better, lightly tap your foot on every beat.

Always count the beats while clapping.

When clapping these rhythms, hold your hands together for the full length of each quarter note, and bring your hands apart at the beginning of each rest.

When playing these patterns on your instrument, listen carefully and play each quarter note for its full value. When a quarter note is followed by a rest, cut off the quarter note right at the beginning of the rest.

Patterns 101 through 107 represent all the possible combinations of quarter notes and quarter rests in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time. It is very helpful to practice one measure at a time repeatedly, to improve your music reading ability.

Fundamentals of Rhythm book

If you would like all of this information in book format so that you can put it on your music stand and practice it wherever you go, get The Fundamentals of Rhythm, by Kyle Coughlin. The book includes all of the lesson information and practice exercises found on the website.